'Hunting Party' can't get story straight

Journal Sentinel film critic Duane Dudek offers his take on the state of the movie world.GO TO BLOG

Jaded journalists are fond of saying, "Never let the facts get in the way of a good story."

That's the case in "The Hunting Party," based on a 2000 Esquire magazine piece about five journalists who allegedly used their vacations to try to track down a notorious Bosnian war criminal.

The movie - which fell off the radar after sneak and press previews two months ago - is having its Milwaukee premiere today at the Oak Creek Value Cinema, 6912 S. 27th St.

The magazine piece was convoluted at best, and writer-director Richard Shepard ("The Matador") doesn't make things much clearer.

In the film, they are morphed into three journalists of different ages and backgrounds.

Fortunately, the actors are interesting to watch in this slice of life about war reporting.

"The Hunting Party" depicts the very public burnout of a star network reporter (Richard Gere) and his fall from grace.

Frustrated by the Bosnian war that claimed his lover and unborn child, Gere unleashes his anger during a live report and is ruined, ethically, emotionally and professionally.

His photographer - played by Terrence Howard ("Hustle & Flow," "The Brave One") - soon abandons Gere and land mines for a cushy network job working for an iconic anchorman (James Brolin, looking very Dan Ratheresque).

Howard luxuriates in the money and prestige, but darn if he doesn't miss those adrenaline highs that came from running for his life.

Luckily for him, Gere hooks up with Howard while he's in Bosnia covering the war's fifth anniversary.

Now a freelance reporter scrounging for clients, Gere entices his ex-partner with the story of a lifetime: an interview with an elusive war criminal known as The Fox (Ljubomir Kerekeif $Capital {return "Š"} else {return "š"}).

Gere not only wants the story; he wants the $5 million reward for finding the man who slaughtered thousands of Muslim Serbs.

Howard is intrigued enough to use precious vacation days to try to bag the story, and he enlists rookie producer (Jesse Eisenberg), who's desperate to impress his network VP dad.

Off they merrily go to search for an internationally wanted murderer in a battered, butter-yellow Benz - without any weapons.

Through a bizarre misunderstanding, local officials believe they are CIA agents - a belief the reporters fail to correct, since it works in their favor.

Gere is, in turns, charming, infuriating, illogical and paranoid.

First, he wants the interview. But is it for love or money?

If for love, is it for the love of a story or to revenge his lover?

His motivation is a moving target, as is his sanity.

Howard, as always, is fascinating to watch and a welcome counterpoint as the quiet, thoughtful observer in a strange land.

But the movie's weaknesses erode its potential.

Why is Howard never seen with a camera during the hunt to interview The Fox? What happened to "no pictures, no story"?

Finally, the film has an overly smug, self-congratulatory ending, even though the real-life journalists' story on which "The Hunting Party" is based failed to make the world safe for democracy.

Apparently, Shepard didn't let the facts get in the way of his story, either.